1996 PONTIAC PONTIAC brake fluid

There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the
reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake fluid
goes down to an acceptable level during normal brake
lining wear. When new linings are put
in, the fluid level
goes back
up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out
of the brake system. If it is, you should have your brake
system fixed, since
a leak means that sooner or later your
brakes
won’t work well, or won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak. If you add ‘fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary,
only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
’ A CAUT-ON:
I
- I
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on
the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned, and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See “Brake System
Warning
Light” in the Index.
6-27
i _. ProCarManuals.com

What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-?
brake fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only, and always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap before removing
it.
A CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of fluid in youp brake
system, your brakes may not work
well, or they
may not even
work at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
NOTICE:
0 Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example,
just a few
drops
of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t
let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
0 If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
dgmaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately. See LLAppearance Care” in
the Index.
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I
Part D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
NOTE: Fluids and lubricants identified below by name,
part number or specification may be obtained from your
GM dealer.
USAGE
Engine Oil
Engine Coolant
FLUIDLUBRICANT
Engine oil with the American
Petroleum Institute Certified
For
Gasoline Engines “Starburst”
symbol of the proper viscosity.
To
determine the preferred viscosity
for your vehicle’s engine, see
“Engine Oil” in the Index.
50/50 mixture of clean water
(preferably distilled) and GM
Goodwrench@ DEX-COOL
TM or
Havoline@ DEX-COOL TM
(orange-colored, silicate-free)
antifreeze conforming to GM
Specification
6277M. See “Engine
Coolant” in the Index.
USAGE
Coolant
Supplement
Sealer
Hydraulic Brake System
Power Steering System
Automatic
Transaxle Key Lock
Cylinders
Chassis
Lubrication
FLUIDLUBRICANT
GM Part No. 3634621 or
equivalent with a complete flush
and refill.
Delco Supreme 11
@I Brake.Fluid
(GM Part No. 1052535 or
equivalent DOT-3 brake fluid).
GM Power Steering Fluid
10500 17 - 1 qt., or equivalent).
DEXRON@-III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube’
(GM Part No. 12346241
or equivalent).
Chassis lubricant (GM Part
No. 1052497 or equivalent) or
lubricant meeting requirements
of NLGI Grade 2, Category LB
(GM
Part NO. 1052884
- 1 Pt.,
or GC-LB.
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. Section 9 Index
Access Panel. ~mnk .... ...................... 2-39
Accessory Outlet
............................... 2-42
AirBag
....................................... 1-23
How Does it Restrain
.......................... 1-27
How it Works
................................ -1-25
Location
............................... 1.25. 1-26
Readiness Light
.......................... 1.25. 2.47
Servicing
................................... 1-29
What Makes it Inflate .......................... 1-27
What Will
You See After it Inflates ............... 1-28
When Should it Inflate
......................... 1-27
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-16
Airconditioning
................................ 3-2
Air Conditioning Refrigerants ..................... 6-75
Alignment and Balance, Tire
...................... 6-54
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning
...................... 6-61
Antenna. Power
........... .. ....... 3-24
Antifreeze
................ ......... 6-20
Anti-Lock
Brake System Active Light
. . ........ 2-50, 4-8
Brakes
...................................... 4-6
Anti-Theft, Radio
.............................. 3- 19
Brake System Warning Light
.............. '2-49, 4-7
Appear~~~~Care ............................... 6-56 Appearance
Care Materials
....................... 6-63
Arbitration Program .............................. 8-8
Armrest. Storage ............................... 2-38
Ashtrays ...................................... 2-40
Audio Controls. Steering Wheel Touch Control
....... 3-21
Audio Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-22
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-5
Auto-Down Window ............................ 2-25
Automatic
Door Locks ............................. 2-4
Automatic Transaxle Check
........... .................... 7-37
Fluid
........................... ........ 6-17
Operation
.... i .............................. 2-14
Park Mechanism Check
......................... 7-39
Battery ...................................... 6-30
Jump Starting ................................. 5-2
Replacement. Remote Lock Control
............... 2-6
Saver
...................................... 2.36
Warnings
................................ 5.2. 5.4
BBB Auto Line ................................. 8-8
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-8
9-1
I ....... 1 ... I ..-- .~ ............. - ProCarManuals.com

Brake
Adjustment .................................. 6-2 9
Fluid
......................................... 6-26
Master Cylinder
............................... 6-26
Paikhg ..................................... 2-18
Pedal Travel
................................. 6-29
'Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-30
System Warning Light
......................... 2-48
Trailer
...................................... 4-34
Transaxle Shift Interlock Check
.................. 7-38
Transaxle Shift Interlock
....................... 2-22
. Wear ..............................,........ 6-29
Braking
........................................ 4-5
Break-In. New Vehicle .......................... 2-10
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-34
Bulb Replacement .............................. 6-3 1
Brakes,Anti
-Lock
............................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies ..................... ..... 4-9
BTSI .......................................... 2-22
BTSICheck
................................... 7-38
Canadian Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-5
Capacities and Specifications ...................... 6-73
Carbon Monoxide
.................... 2.23.4.27. 4.33
Cassette Deck SerGice ........................... 7-36
Cassette Tape Player
........................ 3.7. 3.11
Cassette Tape
Player Care ........................ 3-23
CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature
................. 3- 19
Center Passenger
Position ........................ 1-34
Cassette Tape Player Fxr~rs .......... .. ...... 3-9
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp .............. 6-44. 6-45 Certification Label
.............................. 4-29
Chains. Safety ................................. 4-34
Chains. Tire ................................... 6-56
Charging System Light
.......................... 2-47
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-62
Chemical
Pahit Spotting ................. ' ......... 6-62 .
Child Restraints ................................ 1-44
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position
........... 1-46
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position
.......... 1-48
Changing
a Flat Tire ............................. 5-23
Securing
in the Passenger Seat Positilon ...... 1-50. 1-53
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position
..... 1-50. 1-53
TopStrap
................................... l-45
Where to Put ................................ 1-44'
Cigarette Lighter
.................. ......... 2-41
Circuit Breakers and
Fuses ....................... 6-65
Cleaner. Air ................................... 6-16
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
.......................... 6-61
. Fabric .......................... ......... 6-57
Glass
....................................... 6-59
InsideofYourPontiac
......................... 6-57
InstrumentPanel
............................. 6-59
Leather ...................................... 6-59
Outside
of Your Pontiac ......................... 6-60
Stains ...................................... 6-57
Tires
....................................... 6-62
Wheels
..................................... 6-61
Climate Control System
............................ 3-1
Special Problems ............................. 6-58
Vinyl ....................................... 6-59
Windshield and Wiper Blades ................... 6-60
9-2
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Paint Spotting. Chemical .... ... 6-62
Park
Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2- 14
Shifting Into
................................. 2- 19
Shifting Out of
............................. 2-22
AtNight
..................................... 2-8
Brake
...................................... 2-18
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-39
Lots
........................................ 2-8
Over Things That
Bum ........................ 2-23
With a Trailer ................................. 4-37
Passenger Position
......................... 1-30. 1-34
Passing 4-12
PASS-Key
II .................................. 2-8
Periodic Maintenance Inspections ................... 7-40
Pontiac Cares Program ............................ 8-1
Power
..... FJ.
Parking
......... ....... .......... ...... Accessory Outlet ..- ...... 0: ... ;. y i. .; . * J;? . ....... . !. ... ..w 'X . 2-42 ........
Antenna Mast Care ............................ 3-24
Antenna Service .............................. 7-36
DoorLoc
ks ................................... 2-3
Option Fuses
................................ 6-65
Outside Mirror
............................... 2-37
Seat
......................................... 1-2
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-24
Steering ..................................... 4-9
Windows
................................... 2-25
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts
.................... 1-30
Problems
on the Road ............................ 5-1
Publications. Service and 'Owner ................... 8- 11
T
RadiaGr .............. ......... 5-19
Radiator Pressure Cap
........................... 6-24
Radio Reception
................................ 3-22
Radios
........................................ 3-5
Rain. Driving
In ................................ 4-16
Reading Lamps
................ . . 2.35. 2.36
Rear
Lamp
Bar Bulb Replacement .................... 6-47
Outside Seat Position
.......................... 1-36
Safety Belt Comfort Guides ..................... 1-39
Seat Passengers
.............................. 1-36
Window Defogger
............................. 3-4
Rearview Mirror. Inside Daymight
................. 2-37
Reclining Front Seatbacks
......................... 1-3
Recovery Tank. Coolant
.......................... 5-16
Refrigerants. Air Conditioning
.................... 6-75
Remote Lock Control
................................. 2-4
Trunk Release ................................. 2-7
Towing ..................................... 5-10
Replacement Bulbs
...................................... 6-72
Parts ....................................... 6-75
Wheel
...................................... 6-54
Replacing Safety Belts ........................... 1-62
Reporting Safety Defects
.......................... 8-9
Restraints
Checking
................................... 1-62
Child
....................................... 1-44
Head ......................................... 1-5
Replacing Parts After a Crash .................... 1-62
Systemcheck
................................ 7-37
Reverse. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-15
Right Front Passenger Position
....... .. ....... 1-30. 1-34
9-7
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Trailer Brakes
..................................... 4-34
Driving on Grades
............................ 4-36
Hitches ..................................... 4-33
ParkingonHills
. ............................. 4-37
Safety Chains
.............. ................. 4-34
. Driving With ................................ 4-34
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-37
Tongueweight
............................... 4-32
Total Weight on Tires
.......................... 4-33
Weight
..................................... 4-32
Transmitters, Remote Lock Control
.................. 2-4
Transportation, Courtesy
.......................... 8-7
Trip Calculator
................................. 2-57
Trip Odometer
................................. 2-45
Access Panel
................................ 2-39
Release, Remote
............................... 2-7
Turn Signal and Lane Change Signals
............... 2-27
Turn Signal On
Chime ........................... 2-27
Turn SignalMultifunction Lever
................... 2-26
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
................ 4-36
Towing
..................................... 4-30
Turnsignals
................................. 4-36
Tr~nk
......................................... 2-7
Lock
........................................ 2-7
TTYUsers
..................................... 8-4
Underbody Flushing Service
..................... 7-39
Underbody Maintenance
......................... 6-62
Underhood Electrical Center ................. 6-68, 6-70
Vehicle
Control
...................................... 4-5
Damage Warnings .............................. iv Dimensions
........................ ... 6-75
Identification Number ......................... 6-64
Loading .................................... 4-28
Storage
..................................... 6-30
Ventilation System
............................... 3-3
Visor Vanity Mirrors ............................ 2-41
Visors, Sun
.................................... 2-41
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
............... 2-46
Washer Fluid, Windshield
........................ 6-25
Weatherstrips
................... .......... 6-60
warning
Devices
................................ 5-2
Washing Your Vehicle
.......... ............ 6-60
Wheel Alignment
.................................. 6-54
NutTorque
.................................. 5-30
Wrench
..................................... 5-25
Windows
..................................... 2-25
Auto-Down
................................. 2-25
LockOut
................................... 2-25
Power
...................................... 2-25
Windshield Washer
............................. 2-28
Fluid
.................................. 2-28. 6-25
Fluid Level Check ............................ 7-36
Windshield Wiper
.............................. 2-28
Blade Replacement
........................... 6-48
Winter Driving
................................. 4-24
WreckerTowing
................................. 5-7
Replacement
................................. 6-54
Fuses ...................................... 6-65
Wiring, Headlamp .............................. 6-65
Wrench. Wheel
................ ............ 5-25
9-10
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